WATCH: Marking new era in Stoney Nakoda healthcare

Officials were zealous in snipping the ribbon for the opening of the expanded Stoney Health Centre on Nov. 22, and for good reason.

Minî Thnî and the Stoney Nakoda Nation have long outgrown the existing 25-year-old facility that was constructed in 1998 to serve a population of 2,000 people.

It now serves a population of well over 5,400 people and has vastly expanded the services available. There's been a 215 per cent growth in demand from 2017 to 2020 alone.

The $15 million expansion has doubled the size of the centre to nearly 18,000 sq. ft. and totals 22,000 sq. ft. when you include the new pharmacy. It ensures a more comfortable and accommodating environment for our community. Equally important is how it will allow for additional services right in Minî Thnî.

"The opening of the Stoney Health Centre is a transformative moment for the community," says Aaron Khan, CEO and executive director. "Our healthcare team takes immense pride in delivering exceptional, culturally-sensitive healthcare. Now, with increased space and updated equipment, we are expanding our commitment to the well-being of every person and family — fulfilling our promise to serve the community, for the community, by the community."

Co-emceed Amanda Goodstoney, who is a family support worker at the centre, spoke from the heart to open the ceremony.

"I, for one, as a nation member, am very honoured and proud to have this expansion completed, because it means a lot to our community and to the families that are in our community," she said.

"It opens up the opportunity for a lot more services and specialist appointments. Things that we normally would be required to go off the community to access, we can now have those available here with the new expansion."

Other speakers included Goodstoney Chief Clifford Poucette, Chiniki Chief Aaron Young, Bearspaw councillor Rodrick Hunter, Goodstoney councillor Krista Hunter, Chiniki councillor Jordie Mark, Bearspaw councilor Dacster Amos, Cochrane mayor Jeff Genung, Kimberly Loh of First Nation Inuit Health Branch, Bighorn county reeve Lisa Risvold, Margo Dodginghorse, executive director of G4 Halth, and Justin Burkett, board chair of the College of Registered Nurses.

A commissioned original artwork by unveiled by the Dennis Labelle, an acclaimed Stoney Nakoda artist. It was also reproduced in postcard size.

The late morning celebration began with a traditional grand entrance led by a drum group, Stoney Royalty, and community leaders. The pride and significance of its completion were reflected in the speeches of healthcare and Stoney Nakoda officials.

The doors open to the community in the afternoon with tours, a mini health fair, and performances by local entertainers.

A late morning celebration began with a traditional grand entrance led by a drum group, Stoney Royalty, and community leaders. The pride and significance of its completion were reflected in the speeches of healthcare and Stoney Nakoda officials.

The doors open to the community in the afternoon with tours, a mini health fair, and performances by local entertainers.

Key highlights of the newly-expanded Stoney Health Centre:

Expanded Footprint: The Stoney Health Center has doubled in size, now occupying nearly 18,000 sq ft of space, ensuring a more comfortable and accommodating environment for our community.

Enhanced Primary Care Services: Eight state-of-the-art exam rooms, coupled with a dedicated triage room, enable us to offer expanded primary care services. This has enabled us to engage and recruit more family physicians and specialists and extend our clinic hours on evenings and weekends.

Comprehensive Diagnostic Services: The Stoney Health Center provides full x-ray and clinic lab services, ensuring that our patients receive timely and accurate diagnostics under one roof.

Prioritizing Mental Health: Recognizing the importance of mental health, we have added four more counselling rooms, offering a comprehensive range of services to support the holistic well-being of our clients.

State-of-the-Art Dental and Optometry Clinics: Introducing new modernized dental and optometry clinics equipped with cutting-edge technology.

The Morley Pharmacy has an added room to assess clients onsite and prescribe onsite.

Fully Integrated Allied Health Services: Collaborating closely with our delivery partner, Renfrew Educational Services, we have further integrated allied health services, including speech-language therapy, physiotherapy, psychology, occupational therapy, and support workers for families, children and youth.

Cultural Rooms: Two dedicated cultural rooms, vented to allow for smudging and other traditional healing practices, emphasizing our commitment to providing culturally sensitive and inclusive healthcare.

Foot care and bathing services onsite. We have added bathing and foot care rooms for clients who need assistance and have no access in their homes.

New IV room. We have an IV room set up to do iron infusions and IV antibiotics to clients so they do not have to go to Canmore or Calgary for treatment.

Future-Ready Expansion: Looking down the road, we have space allocated for a community dialysis room, showcasing our commitment to future healthcare needs.

It follows in the footsteps of the grand opening of another long-sought-after treatment centre across the river.

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